The Tav Sportsbar

The Tav Sportsbar is Busselton's classic sports pub on Queen Street, combining big screens, a TAB and honest counter meals like porterhouse steaks, schnitzels and chilli mussels, and the outdoor beer garden is open to well-behaved dogs. If you want the footy on while your dog sleeps off a day at the beach, this is the pattern that works.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the beer garden and outdoor seating, with the indoor bar and dining room staying people-only under standard health rules. The outdoor tables are reasonably spaced, so there is room for a dog to lie flat beside your chair rather than in the walkway.

Bring your own water bowl to be safe, though staff will usually fetch one over when service is calm. On game days and live-music nights the garden gets loud and busy, so choose a corner table if your dog startles at noise.

Max: sports pubs are a test of settle behaviour. I feed my dog before we go, park her under the table on the quiet side, and the evening stays easy.

The vibe

The kitchen leans pub-fare classics with a seafood twist, from the seafood pie to the salad bar, and prices stay fair for the region. Hours run from 10am daily, closing around 10pm on weekdays and midnight on Friday and Saturday, so it works for an early dinner rather than a brunch stop.

Getting there

The pub is at 117 Queen Street in central Busselton WA, a short walk from the foreshore and the town's main strip. Street parking surrounds the block and the geographe bay side fills up in summer, so arrive before 6pm if you are driving in peak season.

While you're out there

Earn the counter meal at the Vasse Dog Park on the drive in, or pair the pub with a morning at Poppy & Pip Cafe for the coffee half of the day. The Vasse Tavern is the other large dog-friendly option on that side of town.

More options are on the Western Australia pubs guide and the Busselton destination page.